Follow UsBhuvneshwar Kumar was bought by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 10.75 Cr in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. He repaid the faith shown by the franchise in him as they went on to win their maiden title. Bhuvneshwar played a key role, claiming 17 wickets in the 14 matches that he was part of.
However, despite his best showing in the IPL since 2017, the veteran pacer from Uttar Pradesh did not see the light of day in terms of a call-up from the Indian team.
He last played for the Men in Blue on their tour of New Zealand, just after the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia, where India were thrashed in the semi-final by eventual winners England. In that semi-final, he conceded 25 runs in two overs without taking a wicket.
But not getting a call from the national selectors is not an issue for the bowler, who has played 65 T20s since the fateful Semi-Final of 2022 and taken 73 wickets in them. He is only next to Arshdeep Singh in terms of T20 matches played by leading Indian pacers (those who have played for India in at least 10 T20s since 2022) during this period.
So what is it that keeps Bhuvneshwar going? “As a disciplined bowler, my focus is always on fitness and line, length. No matter how well you perform, sometimes luck does not favour you,” he was quoted as saying by TOI during a media interaction in the UP T20 League 2025, where he is leading Lucknow Falcons.
“I am enjoying my bowling. I haven’t thought about retirement yet. As long as I am fit, I will keep playing. The rest is the job of the selectors,” he added.
The 35-year-old, who is throwing down yorkers at will in the UP T20 League 2025, said his job is to play, and the job of selection is for selectors to do.
“My job is to give 100 percent on the field. After the UP League, if I get a chance in the Mushtaq Ali, Ranji or the one-day format for UP, I will give my best there too,” said the man with nine wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 6.8.
Bhuvneshwar will be leading the Falcons against the Gaur Gorakhpur Lions in the Eliminator of the UP T20 League 2025 on September 3 (Wednesday).